Knitting machine



Oct. 19, 1954 L. H. BOXER KNITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March20 1951 INVENTOR LEAH H- BOXEI'P BY 95mm A TTOR/VEY L. H. BOXER KNITTINGMACHINE Oct. 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1951 I/VVENTOI?LEA/1' H. BOXER A T TOR/VEY Oct. 19, 1954 H. BOXER KNITTING MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 20 1951 v INVENTOE" LEA/1' H, BOXER ATTORNEYPatented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES KNITTING MACHINE Leah H. Boxer, SanFrancisco, Calif., assignor of one-third to J. E. 'llrabucco, San Mateo,Calif.

Application March 20, 1951, Serial No. 216,579

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines.

The present invention provides an improved hand knitting machine whichis capable of being easily operated to produce knitted articles fromyarn or the like. The knitting machine embodying the principles of myinvention comprises a plurality of laterally spaced work holding membersarranged in cooperative relation with a plurality of loop forming pinswhich are mounted for forward simultaneous adjustment to a strandengaging position extending between the work holdin members and then torearward loop forming positions. The work holding members are providedwith hooked ends which hold the strand as the loop forming pins areadjusted rear-wardly to form a row of loops. Pivoted latches mounted onthe work holding members are swung to positions closing the hooked endsof the said members when the work is shifted rearwardly to effect theengagement and tying of the loops by the preceding row of knitted loops.Th work holding members are carried on a rigid bar which is adapted tobe manipulated to disengage the tied loops from the loop forming pins.The loop forming pins are simultaneously adjusted to their forwardstrand engaging positions by a spring loaded pin actuator, and a cam bararranged for successive engagement with the said pins is used to shiftthem rearwardly. The relativ positions of the adjacent ends of the workholding members and the loop forming pins may be changed to permit acoarser or finer knit to be produced.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a novel hand knittinmachine of the kind characterized which is designed to facilitategreater speed and accuracy in the knitting of fabrics.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of a knitting machine embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is an end view, on an enlarged scale, of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a conventional tool which may sometimes beused in adjusting the position of a strand during a knitting operation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cam bar used in shifting the loopforming members rearwardly;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the knitting machine;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic detailed View showing the relativepositions of the work holding members and the loop forming pins prior tothe commencement of the knitting operation;

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the pins in for- 2 wardly adjustedpositions with a strand arranged in engagement therewith;

Fig. 9 is a similar View showing the pins after they have been shiftedrearwardly to form a row of loops; and

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the loops tied by a previously knitrow of loops which were shifted rearwardly from the work holdingmembers.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l designates an elongated framewhich is preferably somewhat U-shaped in cross section. Secured to anddepending from the frame are C-clamps la for securing the machine to atable A or other supporting structure. Aflixed to the ends of the frameis a longitudinally disposed U-shaped channeled pin guide 2 having aplurality of uniformly spaced guide slots 3 extending transversely inparallel relation with respect to each other. The upwardly disposedsides or legs of the channeled pin guide 2 are also provided with aplurality of pairs of forwardly and rearwardly disposed guide holes 3,the said holes of each pair being arranged in a vertical plane extendingthrough an associated guide slot 3.

Mounted for rearward and forward adjustment in the guide slots 3 andguide holes 4 are a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel loop formingpins 5 which are each provided with a rearwardly extendin horizontalportion 5a, a U- shaped portion 5b which projects through an associatedguide slot 3, a forwardly extending horizontal portion 50 and anupstanding vertical portion 5d (Fig. 6). It will be noted that the U-shaped portion 5b and the upwardly disposed portion 5d of each pin arein a common vertical plane,-also that the said upright portion Ed ismaintained in an upwardly projecting vertical position by reason of theU- haped portion 5b engaging with its associated guide slot 3. The pins5 are all the same shape and length.

Mounted for forward and rearward movement inside the frame I is alongitudinally extending L-shaped pin actuator S which is arranged toengage with the rear ends of all of the loop forming pins 5. The pinactuator 6 rests on the bottom side of the frame I, and a centrallydisposed finger piece l secured to the actuator and extending through ahole in the rear side of the said frame provides means for pushing thactuator forwardly to simultaneously adjust all of the pins 5 to theirforward strand engaging positions. A tensioned leaf spring la interposedbetween the pin actuator t and the forward portion of the frame servesto return the pin actuator to its rearward position as shown in Fig. 6.The loop 3 forming pins when in their forwardly projected positions arepositioned with their U-shaped portions 52) abutting the forward ends ofthe slots 3 and their upstanding portions 5d extending in longitudinalalignment well in front of the frame I.

An elongated cam bar 8 (Fig. 4) having longitudinal parallel edges andhaving both of its ends formed with inclined metal faced cam surfaces asat 811., is used to successively actuate the loop forming pins 5rearwardly to form loops in an engaged strand, as will be presentlydescribed. The cam bar 8 with its inclined cam surfaces facingrearwardly may be projected inwardly from either end of the machine.When using the cam bar either poined end thereof is first insertedbetween the forward side of the channeled pin guide member 2 and theforward leg of the U-shaped portion 5?) of an end pin 5. As the cam baris manually projected inwardly from the left or from the right theadvancing cam surface 811 successively engages with the U-shapedportions 51) of the pins 5, and thereupon shifts the latter rearwardly.

Secured to the ends of the frame I are metal members 9 which haveoutwardly projecting screws I6 secured rigidly thereto. Adjustablysupported on the metal members 9 by means of the screws II] are endplates II which are slotted as at I2. The screws Ill extend outwardlythrough the slots I2, and wing nuts I3 threaded on the screws serve tosecurely hold the end plates II in fixed positions with respect to theframe. The slots I2 of the end plates are arranged to permit thebackward and forward adjustment of the said end plates. Suitablegraduation marks positioned alongside one of the slots I2 of each endplate II provide guide means to be used in association with anassociated screw II] for the corresponding forward or rearwardadjustment of the end plates. The end plates II are correspondinglygrooved as at Ila and Nb. The rear grooves Ila provide openingspermitting the insertion of the cam bar 8, and the forward grooves IIbprovide openings and seats for the movement and support of an elongatedbar I4.

The elongated bar I 4 carries a plurality of parallel rearwardlyextending work holding members or pins I5 which are normally arranged ina substantially horizontal common plane, the said members beinguniformly spaced in accordance with the spacing of the pins 5. The workholding members I5 are so arranged and positioned on the bar I4 thatthey are adapted to project between and in spaced relation with respectto the upstanding portions 511 of pins 5 when the latter are in theirforwardly adjusted positions. The work holding members I5 are of uniformlength and their rear ends are provided with upstanding hooks which areadapted to be closed by pivoted latches I6. The latches I6 are pivotallymounted on the members l5, and when in open positions they are adaptedto extend rearwardly from their pivots to positions alongside theirrespective members I5, thereby permitting the knitted work to be pulledforwardly past them to a position engaging with the bar I4. The latchesI6 are adapted to be swung rearwardly to closed positions with respectto the hooked ends of the members l5 when the work is manually shiftedrearwardly to transfer the last knitted row of loops from the saidmembers to the row of loops then being held by the pins 5, as will belater described. Upon the closing of the hooked ends of the work holdingmembers I5 with the rearward pivotal movement of the latches I6, thepreviously knit loops of the work may be pulled rearwardly over the saidhooked ends of the members to engaging positions with the loops thenheld by the pins 5.

Secured to the bar I4 near its opposite ends are depending flanges I!which engage with the inner opposed faces of the end plates II, therebynormally preventing the lateral shifting of the said bar to positionswhich would change the relative positions of the work holding members I5with respect to the loop forming pins 5.

A cover plate I8 is preferably secured to the frame to enclose theopening located above the pin actuator 6.

The bar I4 is adapted to be manually shifted or turned to lift thehooked ends of the work holding members I5 upwardly to free the loopsthen held by the pins 5 from the latter.

A suitable tool T having a shape such as that illustrated in Fig. 3 maybe used during a knitting operation to rearrange portions of the knittedmaterial in accordance with predetermined designs.

A scale I9 having slidable markers 20 thereon is preferably provided onthe upper surface of the bar I4 to facilitate the knitting of fabricshaving various designs.

Preferably, at the commencement of a. knitting operation an elongatedcloth strip is first threaded over the work holding members I5 andpulled forwardly against the bar I4, after which a detachable thread issecured by knitting to the cloth strip. The purpose of the cloth stripis to provide a convenient device for manually shifting the knitted workto which it becomes attached, backwardly and forwardly during theknitting operation as will be presently described. The work whencompleted may be easily detached from the cloth strip by pulling thethread outwardly. After the removal of the cam bar 8 the loop formingpins 5 are shifted to their forward strand engaging positions bypressing the enlarged end of the finger piece I forwardly toward theframe I. When thus shifted forwardly to the extent permitted by the endsof the guide slots 3, the upwardly disposed portions 5d of the loopforming pins will be positioned forwardly of the hooked rear ends of thework holding members I5. The upwardly hooked ends of the members I5extend upwardly between and above the forward horizontal portions 5c ofthe pins. The latch members I6 should be swung forwardly to positionsresting on the horizontal portions of the work holding members I5. Asillustrated in Figs. '7 to 10, with the various operating parts of themachine positioned as just described, a strand S of yarn or the like isextended rearwardly and to the left in engagement with a certain pin 5and then transversely along the rear sides of those pins which are to beutilized in the knitting operation, depending upon how wide the knittedfabric is to be. (Fig. 7.) The strand is extended forwardly from theselected left hand pin 5 toward the bar I 4; there it is loosely held soit may freely slip rearwardly when the loops are subsequently formed.The cam bar 8 after being inserted between the U-shaped pin guide 2 andthe forward leg of the U-shaped portion 52) of that particular pin 5which is positioned at the right end of the machine, is pushed to theleft, thereby causing the loop forming pins 5 to be successively shiftedrearwardly. Those pins which are positioned in engagement with thestrand S upon being shifted rearwardly form a series of loops, as shownin Fig. 9. The work is then shifted rearwardly on the work holdingmembers i5, thereby passing under the slightly upturned free ends of thelatches l6 and thereupon causing the said latches to swing rearwardly topositions in which their said free ends engage with and close the hookedends of said members. As the work is continued to be shifted rearwardlythe last knit row of loops thereof (or the row of loops formed by thethread) are transferred from the work holding members [5 to the loopsthen held by the loop forming pins 5. These transferred loops extendover and around the thusly held loops (Fig. 10), and thereafter the saidtransferred loops operate to tie the held loops, as in the ordinaryknitting operation. The bar I4 is then partially turned or shifted tolift the hooked end of the work holding members l5 upwardly, therebydisengaging the tied loops from the pins 5. When this latter operationis carried out, the work is preferably pulled downwardly by theoperators hand, after which the said work is pulled forwardly toward thebar l4, thereby opening the latches, preparatory to the next operation.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is:

1. In a knitting machine, an elongated frame having a bar supportingmeans at its forward side, an elongated adjustable bar mounted on thesupporting means of the frame. a plurality of rearwardly extendinguniformly spaced work holding members carried by the bar and normallyarranged in substantially horizontal positions, the said work holdingmembers having upturned hooked rear ends and pivoted latches arranged toswing between a position extending forwardly alongside the members and aposition extending rearwardly in engagement with the said hooked ends, aplurality of upstanding uniformly spaced pins mounted for forwardadjustment to forward positions extending between the hooked ends of thework holding members and to positions rearwardly of the said hooked endsof the work holding members, means for shifting the pins forwardly andmeans for adjust ing the pins rearwardly.

2. In a knitting machine, an elongated frame having a bar supportingmeans at its forward side and a pin supporting guide, an elongated barmounted for rotative adjustment on the supporting means, a plurality ofrearwardly extending uniformly spaced work holding members carried bythe bar and normally arranged in substantially horizontal positions, thesaid work holding members having upturned hooked rear ends and pivotedlatches arranged to swing between positions extending forwardlyalongside the members and positions engaging with the hooked ends of themembers, a plurality of uniformly spaced loop forming pins mounted forbackward and forward adjustment on the supporting guide, the said pinshaving upwardly disposed forward ends arranged to extend rearwardly ofand project upwardly between the rear end portions of the members whenthe pins are in forwardly adjusted positions, means for adjusting thepins forwardly and means for moving the pins rearwardly.

3. In a knitting machine, an elongated work holding member carrier, aplurality of uniformly spaced work holding members secured to thecarrier and normally arranged in substantially horizontal parallelpositions, the said members having upturned hooked rear ends and pivotedhook closing latches, a plurality of parallel uniformly spaced loopforming pins mounted for backward and forward adjustment and havingupstanding forward ends, the said pins being adjustable forwardly topositions whereby the upstanding forward ends extend upwardly betweenthe rear end portions of the work holding members and for-' mounted forrotative adjustment, a plurality of uniformly spaced work holdingmembers secured to the carrier and normally arranged in substantiallyhorizontal parallel positions, the said members having upturned hookedrear ends and pivoted latches arranged to swing to and from forwardpositions alongside the members to rear positions engaging with thehooked rear ends of the members, a plurality of parallel uniformlyspaced loop forming pins mounted for backward and forward adjustment,the said pins having upstanding loop forming forward ends andcorrespondingly positioned depending portions, the said pins beingadjustable forwardly to positions whereby their upstanding forward endsextend upwardly between the rear end portions of the work holdingmembers and forwardly of the hooked ends thereof, and the said pinsbeing adjustable rearwardly to positions whereby their upstandingportions are spaced rearwardly from the hooked ends of the work holdingmembers, a cam bar engageable with the depending portions of the pinsfor adjusting the said pins rearwardly, and separate means for adjustingthe pins forwardly.

, 5. In a knitting machine, a plurality of uniformly spacedsubstantially parallel work holding members having upturned hooked rearends and pivoted latch means arranged to open and close the said hookedends, the said work holding members being normally arranged insubstantially horizontal positions, and a plurality of uniformly spacedloop forming pins having upstanding end portions, the pins beingadjustable forwardly to positions whereby their upstanding end portionsextend between the rear end portions of the work holding members andforwardly of the hooked ends thereof, and. the said pins beingadjustable rearwardly to positions whereby their upstanding end portionsare spaced rearwardly from the hooked ends of the work holding members.

6. In a knitting machine, a plurality of spaced work holding membersmounted on a common adjustable support, the said members being normallyarranged in horizontal and parallel positions, the said members havingupturned hooked rear ends arranged in horizontal alignment and pivotedlatches arranged to open and close the hooked ends, and a plurality ofspaced loop forming pins having upstanding end portions, the pins beingadjustable forwardly to positions whereby their upstanding end portionsextend between the rear end portions of the work holding members and.forwardly of the hooked ends thereof, and the said pins being adjustablerearwardly to positions whereby their upstanding end portions are spacedrearwardly from the hooked ends of the work holding members.

7. In a knitting machine, a plurality of uni- .7 formly spaced workholding members normally arranged in substantially horizontal positionsand rigidly supported in parallel relation on a rigid elongatedadjustable support, the said members having upturned hooked rear ends,pivoted latches mounted on the members and arranged to swing betweenforward positions closing the hooked ends of the members and openpositions alongside the members, a plurality of uniformly spacedupstanding loop forming pins mounted for forward adjustment to strandengaging positions between the work holding members and the said pinsbeing mounted for rearward adjustment to loop forming positionsrearwardly of the work holding members, means for adjusting the pinsforwardly, and separate means for adjusting the pins rearwardly.

8. In a knitting machine, an elongated frame, adjustable end supportsmounted on the ends of the frame, an elongated bar mounted for partialturning on the end supports, a, plurality of uniformly spaced workholding members rigidly secured to the bar and normally positioned in asubstantially horizontal plane, the said members having upturned hookedrear ends, pivoted latches mounted on the members and arranged to swingbetween forward positions closing the hooked ends of the members and toopen positions alongside the members, an elongated pin guide mounted onthe frame having a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel transverseslots, a plurality of uniformly spaced loop forming pins adjustablymounted for forward and backward movement on the pin guide and havingdepending portions extending into the transverse slots and also havingupstanding forward end portions, the said upstanding end portions beingarranged to project upwardly between the forward end portions of thework holding members when in forwardly adjusted positions, and the saidpins being adapted to be rearwardly adjusted to posi-- ranged in acommon horizontal plane, the saidv work holding members having upturnedhooked rear ends normally arranged in horizontal alignment and havingalso pivoted latches mounted for swinging movement between forwardpositions extending alongside the work holding members and rearpositions engaging with the said hooked rear ends, a plurality ofuniformly spaced.

upstanding loop forming pins mounted for forward adjustment to strandengaging positions between the work holding members, and the said pinsbeing also mounted for rearward adjustment to loop forming positionslocated rear-' wardly of the hooked rear ends of the work hold-,

ing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,347,069 Albert Apr. 18, 1944 2,382,614 De la Pena Aug. 14,1945 2,490,607 Wood Dec. 6, 1949 2,501,045 Groszmann Mar. 21, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,026 Australia Oct. 9, 1941945,565

France Nov. 29, 1948 w Ni

